Is the new wifi rtw88_8822bu module stable for AP mode?

Gustave Eiffel · 02-29-2024, 12:58 AM

Hi everybody,

The module rtw88_8822bu module is available from kernel 6.x (6.3 or 6.5).

This module was seemingly written by Realtek... (based on 6.5 source)

There are however problems in the longer term (meaning, after the system is up for a few hours)
from dmesg

Code:

[19639.053078] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: error beacon valid
[19639.053184] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to download rsvd page
[19639.053343] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to download firmware
[19639.054903] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: leave idle state failed
[19639.059143] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to leave ips state
[19639.059145] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to leave idle state
[19639.222254] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to get tx report from firmware
[19647.499717] rtw_8822bu 1-8.4:1.0: failed to send h2c command

Does anybody know if this module works also reliably in AP (Access-Point) mode?

Thanks

business_kid · 02-29-2024, 06:38 AM

I have an 8812bu, and got a module on github from some private guy, not realtek. Realtek clearly don't care about the linux user. What is inclined to happen is that guys 'tart up' the code because the programmers hired by Realtek seem congenitally incapable of writing code of the standard required.

I used RinCat's 88x2BU code from github, and it worked. When I was compiling there were issues with the 4.x.x kernel headers being rearranged for the 5.x.x kernel. Rincat's code worked well, (x86_64 & Aarch64) but avoid Realtek as a rule when buying devices. I didn't test AP mode, but I'd expect it to work.

RinCat also had something about blacklisting the RTW88 module if it doesn't work for you.

Gustave Eiffel · 02-29-2024, 09:06 AM

Thanks for the reply.
Realtek is, of course, a nono from now on.
Expecting a Mediatek replacement soon btw

For the current device, I installed the module from https://github.com/morrownr/88x2bu which also blacklists automatically the kernel rtw88.

It has been working great (AP mode) for many hours now.

business_kid · 02-29-2024, 09:30 AM

That module is very good also. IIRC, I compiled those early in the life of the 5.0 kernels on my RPi. They compiled on Debian, but the headers were off in Slackware. I bent the headers straight with a number of 'lndir' commands, sent them off to the slarm64 maintainer and every header package since was kosher.

They must have stopped adding to the rtlwifi module. That was getting past ridiculous with the number of mostly obsolete wifi dongles supported.

Mediatek isn't a whole lot better, but it is better. Mediatek also owns Ralink. As wifi dongles are so common on Arm sbcs, they are better supported there. Aarch64 Maintainers beat these github drivers into shape and add to every kernel.I find Qualcomm Atheros very good for the pc.